Free Republic

That Hamas and the BBC have close relations isn’t exactly a revelation. See here and here, for example. But finally the BBC, the world’s biggest broadcaster, has itself admitted to being in touch with Hamas – the group that unlike other Islamic terror groups, has made a habit of deliberately targeting children (in school buses, bat mitzvah birthday parties, pizzerias filled with kids and so on). A senior BBC executive has confirmed that the BBC held private meetings with Hamas – whose gunmen usually wear ski masks to hide their identity – in the days leading up to the release...

Hamas' purported rescue operation today in which kidnapped BBC reporter Alan Johnston was freed from captivity really was a "movie" staged by Hamas to endear itself to the international community and demonstrate it is capable of imposing order in Gaza, a senior Palestinian Authority official charged. "We're watching a movie where the thieves in Gaza fall out and one of them claims to be honest and brave, and the other is the bad guy. This Hamas game fools no one," said Yasser Abed Rabbo, chief aid to PA President and Hamas rival Mahmoud Abbas. Rabbo charged Hamas was in "cahoots"...

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip - Kidnapped British reporter Alan Johnston has been released after nearly four months in captivity in the Gaza Strip, Hamas said Wednesday. Johnston was not seen after the announcement. The release was announced by the Islamic militant group's TV and confirmed in a text message from Hamas to The Associated Press.

BBC's Johnston 'released in Gaza' BBC correspondent Alan Johnston has reportedly been freed from kidnappers in Gaza after almost four months in captivity. Mr Johnston, 45, was handed over to officials of the Palestinian Islamist Hamas administration, reports say. During his time as a hostage, three videos were released featuring images of Mr Johnston or of his belongings. Calls were made for his release in rallies worldwide and in an online petition signed by some 200,000 people.

GAZA (Reuters) - Alan Johnston, the BBC journalist held hostage in Gaza, was freed and handed over to Palestinian officials early on Wednesday after a late-night deal with the al Qaeda-inspired, clan-based group that kidnapped him in March. "It is just the most fantastic thing to be free," he told the BBC live by telephone from the home of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh. "(But it had been) at times quite terrifying."

BBC reporter freed in Gaza - sources Posted 22 minutes ago Alan Johnston, the BBC journalist held hostage in the Gaza Strip since March, has been handed over by his Islamist captors to ruling Hamas officials, a Palestinian source close to negotiations for his release said. The source and another Palestinian involved in the talks both said they saw the 45-year-old Briton being taken into the care of officials from the Hamas movement, which seized full control of Gaza three weeks ago.

Hamas has demanded that the Army of Islam, led by a violent Gaza clan, free Johnston, who was kidnapped on a Gaza City street on March 12

Haniyeh, prime minister of the Hamas-led government sacked by Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas of Fatah, disclosed the video of Johnston in his first major speech since Hamas seized control of the Gaza Strip just over a week ago. "In the past they showed him in an orange uniform. Today they showed him with an explosives belt round his waist," Haniyeh said. A Palestinian source close to the negotiations confirmed the existence of a new tape showing Johnston wearing an explosives belt. The tape has not been aired publicly but the contents were shared with Haniyeh. Johnston, 45, went missing in...

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip - A video recording released Monday shows kidnapped British journalist Alan Johnston wearing an apparent explosives belt of the type suicide bombers use and warning it will be detonated if an attempt is made to free him by force. The video, about one minute, 42 seconds long, was posted on a Web site that has been used by militant groups in the past. It opens with the title "Alan's Appeal" in both English and Arabic and features the logo of the Army of Islam, a shadowy group that has claimed responsibility for snatching Johnston, a British...

BBC Gaza correspondent Alan Johnston appeared in a video posted on the Internet on Sunday wearing what he said was an explosive belt which his captors have threatened to blow up if force was used to free him. "The situation now is very serious. As you can see I have been dressed in what is an explosive belt, which the kidnappers say will be detonated if there was any attempt to storm this area," Johnston said in the video posted by the Army of Islam on a Web site used by militants. ... Johnston's captors have demanded Britain free Muslim...